Position reproducing means



311% y 194k R. R. CHAPPELL EEAL 2,2

POSITION REPRODU CING MEANS Filed May 20, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS.

Rao/v R Chap 0e Puf er 5. 60/7 TZW/MW ATTORNEY.

' June 1941- R. R. CHAPPELL ETAL 2,245,461

POS ITION REPRODUCING MEANS Filed May 20, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl/VE GOA/P55 cw c ccw ccw c cw POTEA/T/AL sou/e05 l-L-iI-l 1.9 I 0 Q) 0 It! E U I i 2 29a, p n

29 17 WM r W INVENTORS.

Rea/ 0h R Chap 0e BY Huger- B. Co/i June 10, 1941. C E r 2,245,461

POSITION REPRODUCING MEANS Filed May 20, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 A9 47a 48a I 24a 2x22 25a. I 46a 23 36 I 456 i "k l I V I 38 1 x39 48b ENToRs, EMF/7 R cha o nefl Burger BY ATTORN EW Patented June 10, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Colt, Baltimore, Md, assign tion Corporation, South Bend, Ind a corporation oi Delaware Application May 20,

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to position reproducing means and more particularly to resynchronizing mechanism utilized with means for reproducing at one point the changes in position of an object or changes in value of a physical quantity at another point.

The invention embodies novel means for storing movement or changes, in proportion to movement of an object or changes of value of a physical quantity during certain periods whereby indications or records of said movement or change may be made during following periods.

More specifically, the device embodying the invention is provided for the purpose of storing in a system, movement or values proportional to changes in value of a physical quantity during power or transmission interruption whereby, upon cessation of said interruption, an indication or recordation is remotely reproduced and all parts of the system are returned to synchronism.

Similar devices of the prior art have been utilized but these have comprised complex and expensive electrical systems requiring great precision of construction and duplication of high precision parts. Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel system comprising simple mechanical means cooperating with simple, electrical means whereby resynchronization between parts and the reproduction of position is greatly simplified. I

Another object is to provide diflerential means for storing movement or changes in proportion to movement oi an object or changes in value of a physical quantity, combined with means whereby said movement or change is delivered at varying rates until synchronism between the various parts of the system is achieved.

A further object is to provide means for difi'erentially and mechanically retarding delivery of a force, and means cooperating with said differential means for gradually transmitting portions of said force until an indication or recordation proportional to said retarded force is reproduced.

Still another object is to provide diil'erential means for storing movement proportional to the value of a physical quantity to be measured at one point, and means cooperating with said differential means for reproducing at another point, an indication or recordation proportional to the value of said physical quantity.

A further object is to provide novel difl'erentially operated means for storing, during one interval of time, movement proportional to the value of a physical quantity to be measured,

on to Bendix Avia- 1939, Serial N0. 274,856

means interconnected with said first means for producing a storage of said movement at a different ratio of proportionality, and means whereby an indication or recordation is reproduced during another interval, said recordation being produced by said first storage at one rate and by said second storage at a diflerent rate, whereby. rapidity of operation and precision of reproduction are obtained.

Still another object is to provide a differential gear mechanism for actuating control means for an electrical circuit in proportion to changes in value of a physical quantity, means for producing at a diiierent ratio of proportionality actuation of another electrical control circuit by said same changes, and selecting means cooperating with said actuating means, whereby control or an electrical circuit by vsaid control means is sequentially obtained.

The above and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinalter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment of theinvention is illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and descrip tion only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being pri- 3 marily had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views;

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the mechanical diflerential storing device;

Fig. 1a is a schematic illustration of the electrical circuits controlled by the storing device of Fig. l;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the storing devicebt Fig. 1, including the control motor, illustrating the various elements of said device in assembled position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. 2 with certain parts omitted to clarify the operation; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fi 3.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, the invention is illustrated, in the present instance. as applied to a water level indicating or recording device, generally known as a water-stage recorder, but it is to be specifically understood that the novel means comprising the invention may be utilized in indicating or recording the measurement of any desired physical quantity. As shown in Fig. 1, a float I9 is mounted for movement by changes in water level and is connected to a chain ii at one end thereof. The float it! is raised or lowered in proportion to changes in water level thereby producing movement of chain ii. Chain ii extends over a sprocket wheel'ifi, the other depending end thereof having connected thereto a counter weight i3. Sprocket wheel i2 is connected to a shaft M carrying gear i5 meshing with pinion it whereby said gear and pinion are rotated upon the upward or downward movement of the float It in response to changes in water level. Hnion i6 is mounted integral with a shaft ll carrying a gear i8 meshing with pinion i9 integral with or attached to a shaft 2d, at one end thereof. At the other end of shaft 26 there is attached a gear 2! comprising one of the center gears of a spur gear differential mechanism generically designated as 22. Meshing with gear 2i is a spur gear 23 integral with shaft 24$ whose ends 261a and 24b are journalled in and attached to the cam surfaced difierential housing plates com= prising cams 25a and 25b and rotatable with respect thereto. Cam 25a. is loosely mounted on shaft st for rotation with respect thereto and cooperates with a cam follower 28a journalled at 7 21a in bracket 28a carried by a switch 28a pivoted at 30s at one end thereof and carrying at the other end thereof a contact member a which, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 1a, comprises the center contact of a group of three contacts designated as the flne'control contacts of the mechanism. Contact 3hr cooperates with a sta tionary contact 8241 labelled CW in Figs. 1 and 1a tothereby indicate the contact controlling clockwise rotation of a driving motor whose 8:6! tion will be described in more detail later.

Spur gear 23 meshes with spur gear 33 integral with shaft 34 whose ends 35c and 3% are at tached to and iournalled in the 25a. and 2%, respectively, for rotation with respect there to. Spur gear at meshes with gear 235 comprising the other center gear of the spur gear differential mechanism 22.

Spur gear 85 meshing with gear as has another spur gear (not shown) meshing therewith, gear 35 and its companion gear being mounted and operating in the same er as the pair of spur gears 23 and 38.

tively (see Fig. 4) Cam 46a cooperates with cam follower 48c journalled at 49a in bracket 5011 carried by a switch arm em pivoted at 52a at one end thereof and carrying at its other end a, contact 580 comprising the center contact of the coarse group of contacts. Contact 5341 cooperates with a stationary contact 56a. which comprises the clockwise control contact of the coarse set of contacts. whose operation will be described in detail later.

Cain 46b cooperates with cam follower 48b journalled at 49b in bracket 5% carried by switch arm ti lb which is pivoted at 522) at one end thereof and carries at its other end a contact 53b cooperating with a stationary contact 54b, the latter contact comprising the counter-clockwise control contact of the coarse set. v

A worm gear 55 to which is attached a pinion 55a. is suitably connected to shaft 31, whereby said shaft is rotated with said worm gear under the control of the electrical circuit which will be described in detail later. Pinion 55a meshes with a gear 65b cooperating with an index tie,-

the gear and index comprising an example of an indicating mechanism for indicating the value of the physical quantity to be measured, namely, in the present instance, the value of the water level. It is to be specifically understood, however, that the pinion B50. may be geared or attached to the rotor of a self-synchronous transmitting device or other actuating element of a remote indicating or recording device.

Referring to Figs. 2, 8, and 4, worm gear 55 is illustrated as meshing with a worm 68 carried by and attached to a shaft 51 at one end thereof, the other end of said shaft having attached thereto a worm gear 58 meshing with worm 59 mounted on shaft 60c driven by motor 66 (see 2). the rotation of which is controlled by the cam operated contacts. as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 and the electrical circuit as illustrated in Fig. 1a, m will be described in detail later.

Referring to la, there is illustrated the electrical circuit controlled by the storing device shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. One set of contacts labelled "Fine" is controlled by the switch arms 29c and 29b as indicated in Fig. 1 while the set of contacts labelled Coarse is controlled by the switch arms die and an as illustrated in mg. 1. Referring to Figs. 1 and do, it is seen from these figures thatoperation of switch arm 2%.

to close the contacts etc and 32b closes a circuit Center gear 35 is integral with shaft a? upon bracket. 23b carried by switch arm 2% pivoted at 3th at one end thereof and carrying at the other end thereof a contact fiib cooperating with a stationary contact 82b of an electrical circuit whose control will be described in detail later. It is to be noted that contact 822 comprises" the counter-clockwise control contact of the group of contacts designated as the fine control contacts of the mech w w Gear 88 is attached to the cam 25?) by means of a tubular connection 238a. M with gear 38 is a large gear 88 integral with shaft dd carrying a pinion 6i meshing with gear 62 integral with shaft 43 g pinion dd meshing with gear 55. Gear 65 has integral therewith a pair of stepped bosses the and see to which are re spectively attached cams tits and 6617. Gear 65 is mounted for rotation with shaft 87 journalled at tile and ilt in end plates the and see, re-

between the fine contacts C and CW as illustrated in Fig. 1c. Operation of switch arm 2% to close the contacts tit and 82b, on the other hand,

closes a circuit between the fine contacts C and of Fig. la. The control of the coarse set of contacts is performed in a similar manner by operation of the switch arms 5 la. and Nb, respectively.

Closure of a circuit between C and CW or C and CCW of the fine contacts operates directly to control the motor 8t), in a manner that will be described in detail later. circuit between C and CCW or C and CW of the contacts. on the other hand, closes a circuit from one side of a potential source as indicated in Fig. la to actuate a solenoid which in turn operates switch elements to control the motor 88 in a manner that will now be described The closure of a condition: From one side of a potential source as indicated in Fig. 1a across contacts C and CCW, line 6i, solenoid 62, line 63, back to the other side of the potential source. Energizetion of solenoid 62 attracts the armature ll thereof to close a circuit which is traced as follows: From terminal 65 of the motor 6|! to line 66, line 61, armature 64, armature contact a, line 68, line 69, to terminal 10 on the motor '0. Closure of this circuit short circuits a shading coil (not shown) connected between the terminals 65 and 10 of the motor 60. Upon energization of the armature, the motor is rotated counterclockwise in a manner well known in the art.

On the other hand, closure of the circuit between contacts C and CW of the coarse set oi contacts by operation of the switch arm Ha closes a circuit which is traced as follows: From one side of the potential source as indicated in Fig. 1a, to contact C across to contact CW, line 1|, solenoid 12, line 13, back to the other side of the source whereby solenoid 12 is energized to attract armature 14 which closes the following circuit: From terminal 65 of the motor 50, line 66, line 15, armature 14, armature contact 14a, line 18, line 11, to terminal 18 of motor 60 whereby a shading coil (not shown) between terminals 18 and B is short circuited to produce clockwise rotation of motor 60.

Upon the closure oi the circuit between contacts C and CW oi the fine set of contacts, however, there is completed the following circuit, it being assumed that the coarse contacts are no longer closed by the switch arms Bio and 51b. The circuit is traced as follows: From the terminal 65 of motor 60, line 66, line 19, armature 80, back contact 80a, line 8!, back contact 82a, armature 82, line 83 to contact C, across to contact CW, line 11, to the terminal 18 of the motor 60 whereby the field coil between the terminals 18 and I5 is short circuited to produce clockwise rotation of motor 60.

If either of the pairs of the coarse set of contacts, namely, C and CCW or C and CWis closed, at the time that either of the pairs of contacts C and CCW or C and CW of the fine set of contacts is closed, either solenoid 62 or solenoid 12 is energized and armature 82 or armature 80, respectively, is moved from its respective back contact 82a or 80a so that closure of the fine contacts can not short circuit either of the field coils of motor 60, since the circuit that would ordinarily be closed to produce such a short circuit of one of the field coils is opened by actuation of armature 82 or armature 80. It is seen therefore. that closure of a circuit between C and CCW or between C and CW of the coarse contacts, overrides any attempted control of the motor 60 by means of the fine contacts regardless of 7 whether or not either of the two pairs of contacts of The coarse set of contacts, therefore, control the motor until the switch arms Bid and ill) are both moved to open circuit position by their respective cams did or 46b whereupon the fine contacts controlled by switch arms 28a and 2912 will assume control of motor 60 provided that either oi these switch arms is in the circuit closing position. The fine contacts maintain control of the motor 60 until both the switch arms Ila and 2% are moved to open circuit position by the respective cams 25a and 25b.

The operation of the device isvas follows:

Let

4), and worm wheel 55 the fine set be closed or opened.

us assume, for example, that there is a,

3 power failure, and therefore, the motor I is completely deenergized. Changes in the water level measured by fioat I! will operate the storing device to store therein an indication proportional to the value of the change in water level. For example, if the water level should drop, float II will drop thereby lowering the chain II to rotate the sprocket wheel l2 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. Shaft H and gear l5 are likewise rotated counter-clockwise to in turn rotate pinion It, shaft 11, and gear I! in a clockwise direction. Rotation-of gear i 8 in a clockwise direction rotates pinion i8, shaft 20 and center gear 2| counter-clockwise. Since motor i0 is de-energized gear 35 is maintained stationary. Rotation of it in a counter-clock wise direction rotates spur gear 23 clockwise which in turn rotates spur gear 583 connter clcchwise. Since gear 35 is maintained stationary, gear 33 walks around gear Eli; thereby rotating the cam elements 25a and counter-clockwise. If the movement of the float is such so movement that the cams 25a and tated less than a half revolution, fine 31a and 32a will he opened lib and I2?) will be closed. With halt revolution of cam 252:, contacts 53a and 54a of the coarse set of contacts and contacts 53b and 64b of the same set will still he maintained in open circuit position. lteierring to Fig. in, it is seen therefore, that the pairs contacts 0 and CCW and C and CW of the coarse set or contacts are all open circuited and solenoids 62 and '12 are both deenergized. Contacts Bib and 32b having been closed, a circuit is closed between contacts C and CCW of the line set of contacts whereby one shading coil oi the motor 60 is short ciocuited as described above in detail and motor 60 is "thereby prepared for rotation in a counter-clockwise direction when the proper power relationship is resumed. Upon restoration of power therefore, motor will rotate counter-clockwise to rotate worm 59 (see Fig. 2). 'worm wheel 58, shaft 51, worm 56 (see Fig. to thereby rotate shaft 31 so that gear 35 is rotated in proportion to the rotation of gear 2! by the previous changes in water level. If we assume that the water level is maintained constant during the period that motor 60 is rotated counter-clockwise, gear 35 will be rotated clockwise to rotate spur gear 33 counterwlockwise and. spur gear 23 clockwise whereby spur gear 23 will "walk around gear 2i until cams 25a and 25b are returned to such a position that contacts 3ib and 32b arereturned to open circuit position, namely, the same position which they had assumed before the stated change in water level. Upon the pairs of contacts Ha, 32a, and 31b, 32b, assuming-the open circuit position, and the pointer, or the self-synchronous transmitter or other control mechanism for remote indicating devices controlled by gear "a will be rotated to a position proportional to the value of the new water level.

If we now assume, however, that the changes in water level are so great that the cams 26a and 25b rotate more than a half revolution or if we now assume that cams 25a and 25b are roro contacts contacts less than a tated several complete revolutions, the operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming again an electric power failure, should the water level drop, the float II will lower the chain II to rotate the sprocket wheel I! and the gear train connec ed thereto whereby rotation of motor 80 will cease wise direction.

closed.

Referring to Fig. la, assuming that the fin contacts C and CCW are closed, it is seen that the coarse contacts C and CCW are also closed. Closure of the coarse contacts C and CCW energizes solenoid 62 upon restoration of electric current so that the control of motor 60 is taken away from the fine set of contacts and retained by the coarse set as described in detail above. The shading coil of motor 60 between terminals 65 and I is thereby short circuited to in turn compel rotation of motor 60, in a counter-clock- Counter-clockwise rotation of motor 80 (see Fig, 2), will rotate the worm 59, worm wheel 58, shaft 51, worm 56, and worm wheel 55 to in turn rotate the shaft 31 (see Fig. 1), and center gear 35 whereby the differential gear mechanism 22 rotates the cams 25a and 25b several revolutions back towards their original position, to in turn actuate the gear train 38, 39, 4|, Q2, 44, and 45, whereby the cams 46a and 461) are both returned to such a position that.

. contacts 5311,5411, and contacts 53b and 541) are in the open circuit position. Ordinarily, at this point the fine contacts 3Ib and 32b will be in closed position so that the fine set of contacts will take over the control of rotation of motor 60 until cams 25a and 25b are rotated to the position in which contacts am, 32a, and contacts 3), and 32b are all in open circuit position. It is noted that during the rotation of motortn to rotate the cams 46a and 46b, the cams 25a and 25b are rotated several revolutions, thereby automatically actuating the respective switch arms 29a and 29b to open and closed circuit positions but it is to be noted, as was described in detail above, that the closure of either pair of contacts -3la and 32a or 3Ib and 321) does not take over the control of the motor 60 as long as either of the pairs of contacts 53a and 54a or 53b and 54b of the coarse set is in the'closed circuit position; The pointer or Autosyn or Selsyn rotor or other motion repeating mechanism controlled by the gear 55a is thereby rotated to a position indicative of the then value of the water level. Itis to be noted that the relative dimensions of the gear train 38, 39, ll, 42, 44, and 45 may be so chosen that the total number of revolutions of thecam elements 25a and 251) which can be stored in the mechanism, may be as highas desired.

Means are therefore supplied whereby the instored by the diiferential mechanism.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes and modifications in form, materials and relative arrangement of parts, which will now appear to those skilled in the art, may be made without departing from the scope of'the invention. Reference i therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for reproducing motion at a remote point comprising, in combination, a controlling movable member and a driven movable object,a motor for driving said driven object, control means for said motor, a differential gear mechanism having one portion thereof mounted for movement with said controlling member, cam means defining fine reproducers of motion mounted for movement with said one portion of said difierential gear mechanism for actuating said control means whereby said motor drives said driven object during predetermined minor movements of said controlling member, a second cam means defining coarse reproducers of motion, connecting means between said first-named cam means and said second-named cam means whereby the latter are operatedin accordance with the movement of said first-named cam means, said second cam means being adapted to override the control of said motor by said firstnamed cam means during predetermined major movements of said controlling member and thereafter activating said motor to drive said driven object in proportion to the movement of said controlling member, said motor additionally driving a second portion of said differential gear mechanism whereby said first cam means is moved to its initial position to de-energize said motor.

2. Means for reproducing motion at a remote point comprising, in combination, a controlling movable member and a driven movable object, a meter for driving said driven object, control means for said motor, a differential gear mechanism, cam means formed with said mechanism, said diiferential gear mechanism having a portion thereof movable with said controlling mov-,

able member whereby said cam means are carried therewith for operating said control means energizing said motor thereby driving said driven movable object during predetermined minor movements of said controlling movable member, and means for overriding the controlling action of said cam means during predetermined major movements of said controlling movable member and thereafter energizing said control means to operate said motor, said motor acting to drive said driven object and simultaneously moving said cam means about said differential gear mechanism to its initial positiont 3. Means for reproducing motion at a remote point comprising, in combination, a controlling movable member and a driven movable object, a motor for driving said driven object, control means for said motor, a differential gear mechanism having one part thereof rotatable with said controlling movable member, means defining cam surfaces forming with said differential gear mechanism and movable therewith during predetermined minor movement of said controlling member for activating said control means thereby energizing said motor to drive said driven object, means movable with said cam surface defining means for overriding the activating action .of the latter means upon said control means.

during predetermined major movements of said controlling member and thereafter operating said control means for energizing said motor whereby said driven object is moved into positional agreement with said controlling member and said cam surface defining means is simultaneously restored to its initial position.

4. Means for reproducing motion at a remote point comprising, in combination, a controlling movable member and a driven movable object, a

motor for driving said driven object, control means for said motor, a differential gear mechanism having one portion thereor mounted for rotatable movement with said controlling member, cam means defining fine reproducers of motion mounted for movement with said differential gear mechanism whereby upon predetermined minor relative movement of said controlling member said cam means operate said control means energizing said motor to drive said driven object in accordance with the amount of said minor relative movement, a gear train movable with said cam means, and second cam means defining coarse reproducers of motion movable with the first-named cam means through said gear 15v train whereby upon predetermined major movements of said controlling member said second cam means overrides the operation of said control means by said first-named cam means and thereafter assumes operation of said control means energizing said motor to thereby drive said driven object in accordance with the relative major movement 0! said controlling member through said gear train and simultaneously rotate another portion of said difierential mechanism whereby said first-named cam means resumes its initial position.

RALPH R. CHAPPELL. no'rona B. COLT. 

